New traffic court program excludes sex offenders
Duval County State Attorney Melissa Nelson and Sheriff Mike Williams unveiled a new program to streamline the process for those caught driving with an invalid or suspended driver’s license. The fee for such an offense is $322, but because many people can’t afford to pay it all at once, they wind up jailed. Also, until they can pay, they can’t get their drivers license back, which makes getting to and from work (or even working) another challenge.
To avoid this snowball effect and to help those who want to correct their license issues, Duval launched the “KEYS2Drive” program, intended to offer help to those in this position and avoid the costly and time consuming prosecution and collection process.
According to Jacksonville.com, to be eligible, a defendant must be a Florida resident and be looking for relief from fines linked to them not having valid driver’s licenses. The defendant can’t be a registered sex offender.
Why registered sex offenders are ineligible for this program is completely beyond comprehension!
To request an explanation, you can contact:
State Attorney Melissa Nelson, Office of the State Attorney, 311 W Monroe St, Jacksonville, FL 32202
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Another way to make life more difficult and lock us up. Anything to make us look like career criminals
OK, my first thought here is: Don’t do anything to get your driver’s license suspended or revoked. And seeing as how we have to update ours every time we move somewhere, there’s no way our DLs should ever be not up to date LOL. Duval Co. for the most part has been pretty fair to us RSOs and the detectives are actually pleasant when I go to register and actually treat us like human beings, and I really happen to like our Sheriff, Mr. Williams. He goes out and walks the neighborhoods and talks to the residents, seems like a personable guy. And I think it was Nelson’s idea to put that exclusion in there, not the sheriff’s. But I agree with the comment further on down, until the court decides that SOs are a protected class, this discrimination and exclusion will continue, and only get worse. We have to fight back any way we know how. If we can’t get money and lawyers to do our fighting for us, then we need to find another way, but fight we must. You have to make a decision people. Decide to live your life and f**k the govt and the stupid laws and just live and do what you want to do, or live in constant fear and anxiety and wonder if you’re doing this right, or that right, and bite your fingernails all the time. Well, I’ve made my decision and it ain’t the second one. I’ll be damned if I’m going to let a bunch of meaningless bureaucrats with badges and power and idiot politicians control my life and my mind and my emotions. I’ll register every 6 months just to avoid the headache since that is the most important requirement, but all that other sh*t, forget it. Live and fight people. ENJOY your life! God made you for a reason and a purpose. Live it out. “For God did give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 4:7
BTW – after a lot of digging I found an email address for her:
[email protected]
I found it on this awesome resource – might be of help in the future:
https://www.fdle.state.fl.us/CJSTC/Documents/Agency-Addresses/State-Law-Enforcement-Directory.aspx
Thank you so much for sharing!
Here is what I am going to send: Comments welcome and/or changes and additions.
To all concerned:
I am writing in response to the press release concerning the Keys2Drive program (now available in Duval County, FL). The flyer ( found here: https://www.wokv.com/news/local/keys-drive-program-launched-duval-county-help-select-traffic-offenders-obtain-valid-driver-license/ebbqalC8DG8gA1QwTEeyEP/ ) released in conjunction with the program announcement specifically excludes three (3) categories of drivers that are not eligible for the program – non-Florida residents, those whose suspension was caused from a major criminal traffic offense, and sex offenders. While the first two categories are somewhat understandable it is the third that is seemingly just a type of discrimination. If the program excluded all former felons for example, that would be one thing but specifically sex offenders?
I am respectfully asking for justification and explanation of this exclusion. Has the state had a rash of sex offenders driving erratically? Has the state found that sex offenders have suspended licenses more than any other category of driver – for instance murderers or armed robbers? In fact, I must say that these kinds of programs to help those that may find themselves in need of a second chance would benefit all people to remain productive members of society – ALL people. The only possible explanation would be one that dictates a profound bigotry and vindictiveness to hurt those labeled sex offenders. The ability to get to a job and maintain a stable life is key to anyone but more so to a sex offender. Losing their job (if they are lucky enough to find someone to give them a second chance ) can make them unable to maintain a place to live (if they are fortunate enough to find a compliant address that will be rented to them) or to afford the basic necessities of life.
I would like to remind you of a few things. Sex offenders (except those on probation) have served their criminal sentences to society. All other sanctions on sex offenders are based solely on societal perceptions, misinformation, and civil laws that propose to maintain public safety. The key point here is that they have served their sentences imposed and adjudicated by a court of law. Also, contrary to popular public (and seemingly governmental) belief sex offenders are the least likely ( 2nd only to murder) to commit a second crime (any type of crime!). Furthermore, sex offenders have families that love them. Many sex offenders have families with children for which they provide support. In addition, certain incidents concerning identification or other aspects of normal life can trigger further sanctions and problems for those labeled sex offender. Remember that there are situations when it is possible to have a suspended license and not really be aware that an issue exists. For instance, an insurance snafu or another person driving their car that did not pay traffic fines, etc. In this case the sex offender can be arrested and perhaps given punishment far and beyond what another would be given in the same predicament.
Thank you, and I anxiously await some type of explanation and justification for this seemingly random exclusion.
This is perfect and very well written!
Thank you, this is so well written, I copied and finally got my letter off to Melissa Nelson!
{The defendant can’t be a registered sex offender} ………….. and cannot have lost his or her license due to DUI or drug charges. Undocumented immigrants, people on probation and those with major charges are not eligible.
I don’t understand why sexual offenders are excluded for DL related issues. This is pretty much the same with every program, but it seems like they always attach other ineligibles in order to hide their discrimination. Yes, I separated the attached discrimination on the top paragraph.